Search age:

Search in:

Cowboys leaked info: Henry

Laine Clark

Dumped North Queensland coach Neil Henry has accused the Cowboys of leaking information about his future, saying it led to the NRL club fast-tracking confirmation he will not be required next year.

However, Henry said the recent passing of friend and ex-Cowboys coach Graham Murray had helped him put his tough situation in perspective.

Henry said he officially received the tap on the shoulder from the Cowboys on Sunday after the club's finals hopes were all but extinguished by an 18-16 loss to Brisbane.

But it was his understanding that the only comment North Queensland would make on Monday was regarding Murray, who passed away on Sunday night after suffering a second heart attack earlier this month.

Advertisement

Then the Cowboys issued a statement on Monday confirming Henry would move on at the end of the NRL season - much to the incumbent coach's surprise.

"I have been disappointed by the leakage of information by the club about my future which ramped up about three weeks ago and it has proved to be spot on," Henry said.

"It was information I wasn't privy to which is disappointing.

"I fully respect the right of the board and their charter to make decisions about the club.

"(But) the fact that the media were made aware that a decision had been made forced the hand of the club and an announcement had to be made yesterday."

Henry hinted that the club should have delayed the announcement until Tuesday out of respect for Murray, who had taken the Cowboys to their first finals campaign and the 2005 season decider.

"I was waiting until today which was the preferred time slot given what had transpired with Graham but that wasn't to be," he said.

Henry said the Cowboys' decision was still "raw" but he opted to pay tribute to Murray rather than discuss his predicament.

"It has been a difficult week for the club," he said.

"But any concerns that I have about my future pale into insignificance compared to the tragedy of Graham Murray.

"They are irrelevant compared to what his wife Amanda and his daughter are going through at this time."

Paul Green and Kevin Walters have emerged as early Cowboys coaching candidates.

And Henry offered another on Tuesday - his assistant, former Bronco and ex-English Super League club Castleford coach Terry Matterson.

"He is a wonderful candidate and I hope they consider him because he has great experience overseas and is a great coach in his own right," Henry said.

Henry said he would be on the lookout for another NRL coaching job but claimed it would not be a distraction during the Cowboys' final six regular season games as they pursue an unlikely top eight finish.

"We are a mathematical chance of getting on a roll and making a (finals) push," he said.